What will you grow overwinter?

[zazen999]

Zaz,
I am really interested that you say you've just sown these!! I always thought that brassicas, leeks etc had to be sown in May/June time for the winter/hungry gap...Is this because your growing them 'under cover' all winter or just until established?

Apart from the leeks, yes - I've just sown them. They will be under a cloche all winter. Most of my brassicas get whitefly so I stick to cabbages [which are already in] and the above - the leafy stuff will be grown as cut and come again type.

This is one bed, at home, in the middle of last December when we were redesigning the garden. Even if you do nothing with the crops, it looks better than nothing in the beds! I think if I want to eat the crops, then I cloche them.

[alldigging]

Broad beans, shallots and garlic.
And claytonia, Lettuce Arctic King, Pea Meteor, Leaf Beet Perpetual Spinach, AYR lettuce, Mizuna Kyoto, Corn Salad Vit and some american cress.
Am going to try coldframe, greenhouse and outside and see what I can keep going.

Of course I have some purple sprouting stuff and cabbagey things too. And leeks. Tons of leeks.

[Cue the Toms]

Many of you appear to grow leeks. I love leeks.... Can I just pull them up as I need them rather than be stuck with a glut of them? I don't like freezing stuff unless I have to.

Do brassicas have to be undercover or will they be ok left out for the winter? I thought that under netting would be fine?

[Two_Sheds]

I love leeks.... Can I just pull them up as I need them

Don't pull them up at all: slice them off just below the soil. They'll regrow.


I'm off to the plot now to sow another load of green manures, because the beans and pumpkins will be up and out in the next few weeks and I want something in the empty beds.

[Two_Sheds]

Do brassicas have to be undercover or will they be ok left out for the winter? I thought that under netting would be fine?

Brassicas are THE winter veg: they are nearly all OK in the harshest of weather (if you plant winter hardy varieties, of course).

Netting is essential, against the woodpigeons

[flopsy]

i bought some sprout plants for £2.99 for eight from garden centre 3 weeks ago and it says to overwinter in greenhouse. up to now they are growing quite well

[Cue the Toms]

Exactly as I thought... So why are others talking about cloches for cabbages etc?

[chris]

Well, I'm going to attempt to overwinter a tomato sideshoot by potting it on constantly, and then pinching the top off and potting that up when it gets too leggy I've read about others doing it, so this year I'm going to give it a go and compare the results!

[Cue the Toms]

Please keep us informed of how that goes, and if successful then share your secrets with us if you would be so kind?

[zazen999]

Exactly as I thought... So why are others talking about cloches for cabbages etc?

Because of whitefly for me.

[chris]

It's literally just that, as far as I'm aware. I'm going to take a sideshoot I've already chosen - it's about a foot high. Remove that from the parent plant, plant it in a deep pot (to establish a good root system - not sure if that will matter or not), then bring it inside to an unheated (well, rad is set to 1 mark above the frost setting.. which I think is 10ºC?) spare room - so that's unheated compare to the rest .

Erm, yes so when that grows too leggy (it's south facing btw), I'll nip the top off and pot that up, and well just repeat that process until Spring comes around then start to harden it off - I'll compare it to my jan sown tomatoes.

[Alison]

I have hardy brassicas, parsnips, carrots and leeks growing outside at the moment and they'll be harvested as necessary throughout the winter (or in the case of PSB in the spring). In addition to this the last few winters I've had some calabrese, spring cabbage, spring onions, lettuce stuffs, maybe peas etcc in the polytunnel and they all do very well, even the supposedly tender calabrese have done really well and fill the hungry gap very well - very surprised the first year. Will be planting out Japanese onions and garlic next month too.

[veggiechicken]

Well, I'm going to attempt to overwinter a tomato sideshoot by potting it on constantly, and then pinching the top off and potting that up when it gets too leggy I've read about others doing it, so this year I'm going to give it a go and compare the results!

I'm doing the same Chrisses 1 and 2. Have 4 armpits rooting at the mo. I don't think the parent plants will be looking too healthy before long so thought these might be the last decent sideshoots I'll get.

[Cue the Toms]

I'm doing the same Chrisses 1 and 2.

Bet I'm 2nd best? Oh well, it's better than nowhere)

[veggiechicken]

Bet I'm 2nd best? Oh well, it's better than nowhere)

You can argue it out between you. But do remember, one Chris has shown me his White Serpent - and I was impressed